Ron's lips were tightly pressed together, and his cheeks flushed bright red down to his ears. He could hear Malfoy's mockery but didn't know what to say because Malfoy had hit on the one thing that had been bothering him for a long time.
"Ron's actions have nothing to do with you, Malfoy—-"
Fortunately, Ron wasn't alone. Harry, who had just begun to think that Malfoy had improved, mocked his own innocence in his heart. Some people were naturally bad seeds who enjoyed laughing at others, and this was something they could never change. He walked quickly to Ron's side and said with a stern face.
Draco smiled slightly and looked at Harry,
“I bet you're thrilled, Potter. Your best friend is finally trying to pull himself together, aren't you hoping that Weasley will join your dueling team? Oh, to be honest, your judgment in choosing teammates is truly poor. I mean, he might not even be as good as Longbottom!”
"By the way, how did you finally come to your senses, Weasley? Did you see a mediocre pureblood witch showing off her skills in the Triwizard Tournament and finally couldn't take it anymore?"
Pansy Parkinson gave a loud laugh at the mention of making a big show, like a cow snorting.
Ron's breathing grew rapid, and Draco Malfoy did not stop his verbal attack.
"Wesley, you didn't go begging Professor Bran to let you back into the course, right? Oh, maybe you did, and then Professor Bran gave you a chance to. Clean up the classroom for everyone?"
Pansy, standing behind Draco, finally couldn't contain herself. She clutched her stomach and let out a sharp laugh.
"At least Ron now knows to pull himself together, Malfoy. Where are Crabbe and Goyle?" said Hermione without any mercy.
"Probaby still eating breakfast in the Great Hall, aren't they?" Harry's voice was low. "Sorry, am I right? They haven't left the Great Hall since they got up?"
Draco's lips twitched, and the smile on his face faded somewhat.
"Has anyone told you, Granger--" and Pansy Parkinson had been staring at Hermione's face the whole time, "You looked like a mother monkey jumping up and down at the competition?"
"And what about you, Parkinson?"
"After becoming a Triwizard Tournament champion and going through the first round, a little verbal attack can't move Hermione. But she hasn't had the chance to refute it yet when Harry spoke coldly, 'Mr. Weasley is right. The Ministry of Magic is planning to regulate the magical community.' "
"Like a mad cow?"
"You dare to call me that, Potter! I'll make you pay for this!"
Pansy's face suddenly twisted into a grotesque expression. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at Harry, as if she was ready to attack at any moment.
It's particularly sensitive for students of physical education to pull out their wands during a conflict, so even though Harry really wanted to teach these people a lesson, he was trying his best to restrain himself.
"Then shut up, Parkinson!" Harry said sharply.
Hermione looked at Pansy, who pulled out her wand, and then focused on Draco. The brown eyes in her face flashed with doubt.
Draco certainly won't forget the consequences of using magic, but he shows no reaction to Pansy pulling out her wand. So, what's his intention? And Hermione didn't hide her doubts. She pulled Harry away from Pansy and looked at Malfoy, asking directly,
"What do you want, Malfoy? If you're here to train, then feel free to do so, because we're about to leave—-"
"Why do you want to leave so quickly?"
When Malfoy smirked coldly, his image resembled that of his father, Lucius Malfoy. Hermione's question made him turn the heat back on Ron again,
"Were you practicing dodging turds, Weasley?"
"And what, Malfoy?"
Ron's cheeks were still flushed red. He stared straight at Draco Malfoy, but inside, he felt a bit nervous under the gaze of Draco's light gray eyes. Ron didn't understand why, as this situation had never happened before.
"Need a little guidance, Weasley?" Malfoy feigned concern.
Hermione again intercepted Harry and Ron, who were about to argue something. She had already grown tired of their meaningless conversation. With the long-term duel training and her experience in facing fire dragons in the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione's face was filled with an icy aura, and even Malfoy couldn't help but squint his eyes when facing her completely silent figure.
"Let's compare, compare, Potter--" finally, Malfoy couldn't conceal his intention any longer. He lifted his chin towards Harry and said,
"Let's do it according to the rules we practiced in class with Professor Bran, in a team format. Let's see whose team is the best!"
Draco's proposal even surprised some of his teammates. Pansy pulled out her wand, but it was only a show of force. She didn't really want to be kicked out of Physical Education class by Professor Bran.
"Haven't forgotten, Malfoy—" Hermione said sternly, but she was interrupted by Draco.
"Professor Bran isn't at Hogwarts; we saw him leave the school just now. As long as we close the classroom door and no one comes in, no one will know we fought here, what do you say, Potter?"
A real duel match against Malfoy?
Harry's green eyes gleamed with an unusual color.
Throughout the Physical Education classes, they have always been training against Professor Bran, who is hailed as the strongest wizard of the modern era. Against such a formidable opponent, they have no chance of gaining the upper hand in a competition and have always been on the receiving end of being overwhelmed.
This is very normal, but the longer the students train, the stronger their desire becomes to have a 'normal' opponent, to engage in a fair and intense battle.
Harry also shares this mentality, and if his opponent is Malfoy, it would be even better. He can use this opportunity to teach him a lesson.
"Don't be deceived, Harry!"
As their closest friends, Hermione immediately noticed Harry's intention, and she spoke anxiously before seriously looking at Malfoy,
"Don't forget, Malfoy, I am the teaching assistant for this class. I won't allow you to defy Professor Bran's orders and duel privately, and I won't participate either!"
"Oh, well--" Malfoy wasn't surprised by Hermione's reaction. He still stared at Harry, casually shrugged, and sneered with a twisted smile, "I've always known the Gryffindors are just talkative braggarts--"
"I'll join."
Harry spoke suddenly, in a silent tone.
"Don't agree, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed angrily. "If Professor Bran finds out, you know what will happen!"
"Calm down, brother—"
Ron also whispered to him, hoping that Harry could teach Malfoy a good lesson. However, if the cost was for Harry and Hermione to be expelled from the class by Professor Bran for breaking the rules, he would rather accept Malfoy's mockery than that.
"I know Malfoy," Harry said coldly, "This isn't a trap; he really wants to have a duel. Hmph, just as I like it--"
Although so, Harry still had to consider the risk. He squinted his eyes coldly and stared at Malfoy with an excited look, and said slowly,
"We can have a match, Malfoy, but I have a condition!"
"What?" Malfoy finally became serious.
"The duel is between the two of us, without a team."
Harry wasn't overwhelmed by anger. Although he believed Malfoy truly wanted to duel him this time, at least it wouldn't involve Hermione if Professor Bran found out.
"--Then, both of us swear by the name of our respective houses that we will not tell anyone about this duel, whether we win or lose. If you agree, we'll do it!"
Having eaten so many losses, Harry has also grown up enough. He really wants to fight Malfoy and at the same time, he doesn't want to be expelled from the class either.
(Chapter ends)
